Word Up!

Album: Word Up! (1986)
Charted: 3 6
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  • Oh

    Yo, pretty ladies around the world
    Got a weird thing to show you
    So tell all the boys and girls
    Tell your brother, your sister
    And your mama too
    'Cause we're about to throw down
    And you'll know just what to do
    Wave your hands in the air like you don't care
    Glide by the people as they start to look and stare
    Do your dance, do your dance
    Do your dance quick, mama
    Come on, baby, tell me what's the word

    Oh, word up
    Everybody say when you hear the call
    You've got to get it underway
    Word up, it's the code word
    No matter where you say it
    You'll know that you'll be heard

    Now all you sucker DJs
    Who think you're fly
    There's got to be a reason
    And we know the reason why
    You try to put on those Airs and you act real cool
    But you got to realize that you're acting like fools
    Give us music, we can use it
    We need to dance
    We don't have the time for psychological romance
    No romance, no romance
    No romance for me, mama
    Come on, baby, tell me what's the word

    Oh, word up
    Everybody say when you hear the call
    You've got to get it underway, ow

    Oh
    Dial "L" for low

    Come on, all you people sing
    W-O-R-D up, W-O-R-D up
    W-O-R-D up, W-O-R-D up (woo)

    W-O-R-D up
    W-O-R-D up Writer/s: Larry Blackmon, Tomi Jenkins
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 11

  • Markantney from BiloxiNov 20,
    Since the site is primarily about "Pop" hits, it goes with the more Pop popular "Word Up" but club/R&B "Candy" beats it by a hair. Both hits were huge though
  • Michelle from California, UsaThe Gun cover is on the "Barb Wire" soundtrack.
  • Jo from Huntly, New ZealandThis song is GREAT! But I think I like KoRn's Version better as it sounds more like a party.
  • John from Nashville, Tn"Word Up" was Cameo's first of two top 40 pop hits (the followup "Candy" was the other one). It served as the title tune to the group's first platinum album. Before this massive success, Cameo collected seven gold albums and several top 10 r&b hits.
  • Don from Indianapolis, InAnother note, Cameo might have been calling out a rap group called "UTFO". They are most famous for starting the "Roxanne, Roxanne" rap battles that by the end, had a couple of dozen "answer-counter answer" records that involved those known and unknown. UTFO's follow-up hit, was a song called "Split Personality" in which they rap-sample some of the words to Cameo's title track hit, "Single Life." It could have been a little Cameo-style commentary there...
  • Don from Indianapolis, InOne of the BEST dance/funk songs to come out of the '80's. The group has the same claim in my opinion. They put Atlanta on the "musical map" long before LaFace Records did, along with all these rappers who constantly lay claim to it being home.
  • David from Baden-baden, GermanyGun did a very awesome rock version!
  • Constance from Dallas, TxCameo did the best version period! Hands down! LOL!
    Constance Dallas, TX
  • Theo from Johannesburg, South Africathe korn version is awesome!!!jon davis rules!
  • Joel from Columbia, ScI like the Korn version better lol
  • Linda from OudenaardeRock band Gun did a magnificent cover version of this song.
see more comments

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